49ers News: What changes do you want to see on Sunday?

What might visit to Germany indicate about 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey’s return? (paywall)

“McCaffrey’s visit, Fibel said, suggests he has a more serious injury, perhaps an issue that includes microscopic tears in the tendon, that hasn’t responded well to initial treatment methods and won’t resolve within a few weeks with rest. Given the nature of the Achilles, a weight-bearing tendon, Fibel said McCaffrey would likely be sidelined for at least a month and “probably closer to a couple of months” if he had an orthobiologic procedure.

“I think it more suggests this is an injury that they think they are going to need something more to augment his healing that may require weeks or a couple months rather than a week or two,” said Fibel, a sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. “This may be something where you realize the pathology is a little bit more serious and reserve a way to allow him to return this season, even if it does take a month or two with him needing a longer recovery.”

Ricky Pearsall getting ‘a lot healthier,’ but timeline for 49ers debut remains unclear

“I’m not exactly sure the timeline, but I know he’s getting a lot healthier,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday, adding that Pearsall “seems great” during their conversations.”

The 49ers have a 305-pound hole to fill. Here’s the key to replacing Javon Hargrave

“New England’s top running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, weigh 227 and 228 pounds, respectively. They’re two of the most bruising runners in a league that’s now mostly filled with relatively smaller backs. The 49ers’ ability to adapt against the run will be put to an immediate, hard-nosed test.

Defensive end Nick Bosa said the 49ers are busy making schematic adjustments after allowing 244 rushing yards over the past two weeks. Coach Kyle Shanahan said that the 49ers might implement some more varied defensive fronts. They’ve employed five-linemen fronts on select occasions to slow the run in recent seasons. But Bosa emphasized that the biggest key might be establishing better cohesion between the line and the back seven, since the 49ers’ aggressive “Wide 9” alignment — which is geared toward pass-rushing success — creates so much natural space to fill against the run…..

So while it’s unrealistic to believe that the 49ers can find a plug-and-play pass-rushing replacement for Hargrave in the middle of this season, perhaps they’ll be able to replace his snaps with a more effective run defender. And this, at least in theory, could boost the entire defense — including the pass rush.

A natural option for a greater role is 320-pound defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, who joined the 49ers in free agency this past offseason and has averaged about 20 snaps per game so far.

“I think he fits the scheme really well,” Bosa said of Elliott. “He played in Cleveland on the No. 1 defense last year, so he got a feel of what it’s like to play in this type of scheme. He’s comfortable and he’s massive, which is a little different for our interior guys. But it’s always good when you can be big and explosive like he is.”

What did 49ers’ QB Brock Purdy say to Ronnie Bell in wake of critical drop? (paywall)

“That was probably the best thing for me in the last couple days — Purdy coming and talking to me,” Bell said. “And really helping me lift my spirits. It helps a lot having guys having your back like that. He helped me a ton to get back up. Move on. Move past it. And be ready to continue to help the team win.”

Purdy’s NFL potential amazingly foreseen by Mike Shanahan

“This is incredible, so because I was doing this book full force, I spent a ton of time with him [Mike Shanahan] in May and June of 2022,” Silver said. “So in those conversations, I would ask him about Trey Lance, of course, and Jimmy [Garoppolo] and he kept talking about Brock Purdy because he’d seen some minicamp tape and I’d think ‘he’s kind of weirdly into Brock Purdy.

“Whatever, he’s the No. 262 and final pick.’ Now they open against the Bears, it’s Trey Lance’s first game as the unquestioned starter. The day before I go to Mike Shanahan’s room and I’m sitting up there and I’m asking him about Trey Lance and he again brings up Purdy and he says ‘When you have a guy like that in your building, you don’t let him out.’ So he’s still got it.”

Three positions 49ers could make changes at after underwhelming start

“The 49ers felt good about their nickel defense when the season opened. But veteran Isaac Yiadom, who enters in nickel situations, has been exploited in coverage.

Yiadom has surrendered 10 completions on 13 targets for 123 yards and a touchdown. He also was flagged for a 48-yard pass-interference penalty against the Rams’ Tutu Atwell.

If the 49ers believe it’s time to make a change, they likely would turn to second-round draft pick Renardo Green.”